Shelving



Dec. 18, 1934. G R GIBSON Er AL 1,984,473

SHEL G Filed Dec. 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l nmm 'mumnu Hi l H Dec. 18, 1934. G. GIBSON ET AL 1,984,473

SHELVING Filed Dec. 12, 1952 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6601:9 13. Gibson,

JWI'M (I,

Snow/m Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE 1,934,473 SHELVING George Roscoe Gibson, Brookfield, and Alexander Wood, Youngstown, Ohio, assignors to The General Fireproofing Company, Youngstown, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application December 12, 1932, Serial No. 646,924

15 Claims.

This invention relates to metal shelving. Aprimary objectof the invention is to provide a shelving construction including relatively few parts, thereby minimizing the use of tools inerection and facilitating shelf adjustment.

firmly seated under load thereby forming a stable anchorage for the shelf members and contributing greatly to the general stability of the structure,

Afurther "objectof the invention is to provide the shelves with a special corner construction which will insure a" rigid'clamping effect"be-' tween the shelves and-the supporting clip under the weight of the shelfload.

With the above and other objects in view, which will become more fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combinationand arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in'the accompanying drawings, and defined in the appended claims. I I

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figurelis a perspective View illustrating one cf the columns and its associated clip, together with a corner of a shelf supported on the clip. Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the column showing adjacent shelves in position, one of the shelves being broken away to further illustrate the construction. p

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the shelf supporting clip.

Figure 6 is a detail corner of a'shelf.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts'throughout the severalfigures of the drawings. l

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in the'drawings, the shelving structure includeshindts:organization the vertical perspective View of the column A, the shelf supporting clip B and a shelf member 0. It will, of course, be understood that the columns-A are arranged at the front and back of the shelving stack in the usual Way to support the'shelves while the clips B may be used at each shelf location to support a corner of the shelf.

' The vertical columns A are preferably of T- section and, therefore, include a web portion 1 and the offset flanges or wings 2. The web 1 has formed therein a plurality of spaced openings 3 which include a constricted clip seating portion 4 for receiving the body or cross member 5 of the shelf supporting clip B. That is to say, the openings 3 are made wide enough to receive the clips B by a movement of the clip transversely of the web, and then after the clip is within the opening it may be moved downwardlyinto the constricted portion 4 to be seated in position.

Referring in detail to the clip B it will be observed that the same includes, in addition to the body 5, the spaced legs 6 provided with the outwardly offset feet 7 whose ends are beveled or tapered as indicated at 8 to wedgingly fit into the continuous keeper grooves 9 formed at the inside faces of the flanges or wings of the'column. One edge of the body 5 of the clip is notched as shown at 10 so as to straddle the web of the column when the clip is seated in the constricted portion 4 of the slots 3 thereby effectively preventing side movement likely to be exerted on the clips from unseating the feet '7 from the grooves 9. a r

' When the notch 10 of the clip is engaged with the column and the feet 7 thereof are engaged with the grooves 9, it will be apparent that the clip is securely and rigidly held in position not only against side thrust'but also the legs of the clip cannot spread or spring out under shelf load. In other words, the arrangement is such that the clip cannot twist or shift after once being firmly emplaced or mounted at the selectedlocation in the column, unless, of course, it is desired to remove the clip and then it may be lifted out of the constricted portion of the slot and-removedby reversing the operation of emplacement. As will be observed from Figure 2, the legs 6 and feet 7 are spaced from the web of the column, thereby to receive the corner of the shelf.

Referring now more particularly to the shelf member C, it will be observed from Figure 6 that the sameincludes a body 12 and depending side and end flanges 13 and 14 respectively which may be turned inwardly at their lower ends in th usual manner for reinforcing or stiffening purposes, as shown. The corners of the flanges 13 and 14 are, however, of special formation to provide in effect tongues or hooks for engaging with the shelving supporting clips B. That is to say, the flanges l3 and 14 are slotted as indicated at 13a and 14a, respectively, to provide in effect a single split corner tongue 15 whose adjacent edges are notched and shouldered as indicated at lfld and 155 respectively to be interlocked. The sides of the slots 13a and 14a nearest the corner are. preferably inclined as indicated at 16 so that they will have a wedging action respectively against; the inside face of the clip foot land the in 'de face of the body or web 5. Thus; it willflbf" parent that under load the shelves also be wedged firmly in position. By reason of the fact that the adjacent sections of the tongue l5 are notched so as to interlock at mean-1st as theta in Figure 6, there will be sufficient wedging-in the metal of the tongues to insure a rigid shapes itive-connection betweenthe shelf; and the 1 clip, When the shelvesC are in positionit will} of; course, be understood that the side, and. end;

flanges abutagainstthe inside face of thewingsr of, the column and v the web of l the 'columnlrespece tively, thereby avoiding. any looseness at the junce tion of the shelves and the column.

. With further; reference tothe co lumn:.A,. particularly the web- 1 thereof it will-jbe,-,obser.:ved that the outeredge 17 is reducedor recessed at; opposite sidesthereof so asto provide, for; the insertion of partition elementsD (Figure 2) if e i edliron 1the foregoing it will; be apparent that after the shelving stack isset up with, the; columns A properlyfspaced and, arranged, thecliplsa B which are substantially of,U-sh'aped formation may be; inserted edgewise into the;column;opena ings, which are; of substantially L.,shaped;forma+ tion, andj thebody fivofitheclipgseated in: the .oonstrictedportion 4 of ,the openings simultaneously? with the; beve1ed ,ends;. 3 pi the, feet. engaging; in) the grooves 9., Thegshelf; members mayrthenzbeplaced overthe clip sothat ;theicorner tongue; construction 15 may. be. moved into; seating positionbetweenthe leg. 6v and foot 7 ofztha clip;

and the colunm. 1 V

When the structure; is fully assembled rigid... and, stable, shelvingista'ck is. provided',..and whom it becomes desirable to re-adiust theishelves such; re-adjustm'ent may be readilya effected by; simply, disengaging the shelves fromz'the; clips andiirer' locating them at the selected position.

.- Without further. description ittis; thought that thefeaturesand advantages oftheinventioncwillj be. readily. apparent to those skilledin the art; and itwillof course be. understood; that changes: insthe'form, proportion and minon'det'ai'lsofacone struction may be resortedyto, without departing fromw'the spirit of the invention.andtscopeyofithei appended claims.

We claim:.

-1. Al; shelving constructionincluding acolumnz of,T shapedcrosssection; the-web-of said column. being; provided, with, an opening and the: inner: sides of the ,fiangesof the columnbeingrprovided, with grooves, a shelf. supportingchp detachably fittedin saidopening "and, including a body and: spaced leg memberathebody ofgthe clip-seating: in said; opening and gthe legs, thereof; engaging-in said grooves, andv a; shelf engaging ,withkadegaof theclip- 2, In a shelving construction. az.cli having a. body and ;space,d; leg members, 'a -oolumnuhaving a, base and an oifset webprovidediwith.an. ,opem

being provided with openings and the said flanges being provided with grooves, a clip comprising a member doubled upon itself to provide a body portior fitting in oneof said openings and having provided with offset feet engaging in said. grooves, and a: shelf having means for engaging, one. of. the, legs of the clip portion.

4. In a' shelving structure a column, a shelf shpptii ting cllp detachably engaged with said column,,said.clip comprising a body having spaced leg iiie'iiibr's formed therefrom and the ends of said leg membersbeing provided with feetwhose tread -poiptions. are beveled; and-a shelf. supported by said'clip.

with an ope1 1 ih g,. aclipcomprising a body having spaced. leg members, said body fitting the open g, andv said leg members h'aving feet pro- Vid the; clip in the .opening, ineans on the body of the clip, for engaging with the column to prevent shifting thereof. the. opening, and-a shelf n r e iisai 2...

esh na bns iimiwmmi s l including abase and.amedial web projcctingto i id ihs e and i v n an; n n a shelf, umm n l i ubst n i y -r e mai fi n ii-s deeen l nd hav n e thereof disposed transversely astri'de the web towards. the body of the column toprovide shelf supporting members in the included angles betw 'e .the may amine web, and shelves de- 7. A shelving construction-comprisinga vertical, column. including. a. base and a medial web proiatihg to on'e side thereof. and havingan opening, a shelf supporting ens .of, substantially Ushaped.formation fitting in said opening and haying the. legs thereof disposed horizontally astride the web. and. towards. the body;- of the colum n and engaging, the same,, and a; shelf detachably engaging the-portion of. the clip lying in thev includedanglel between the body. and the web. i

'8. A shelving construction comprising a column includinga base anda medial webprojecting to one side-thereof and; having an opening, .a shelf supporting clipeof substantially U,-shaped formaa fitted-in said-opening; and: having the legs the. column tov provide a shelf. supporting member lying in the included anglebetween the" body an-d theweb, said clip having means for: en-

gaging with the web and body'of 1 the. column to prevent lateral displacement thereof in theopening, and a shelf. detachabl-y. engaging'with said.

1 1 g v v 9. A shelving construction oomprising a column havingabase anda web -projeetingto one side thereof and having an opening therein, said having,'portionsithereofx disposedrparalleh to the 1 5. In; a shelving structure a. column provided -rhea/ms for engaging the. column to disposed astride the web. and. toward the web and base and spaced therefrom to provide a recess, and a shelf having means fitting in said recess and engaging said clip.

10. In a shelving structure, a. support including a body having a web projecting to one side thereof, said body having grooves formed in the faces thereof lying at each side of the web, a clip carried by said web and having feet fitting in said grooves, and a shelf supported by said clip.

11. In a shelving structure, a sup-port including a body having a web projecting to one side thereof, said body having a groove at each side of the web and parallel thereto, a clip carried by the web and having end portions provided with bevelled surfaces wedgingly fitting in said grooves, and a shelf supported by said clip.

12. In a shelving structure, a support including a body having a web projecting to one side thereof, and each having clip engaging means, a clip detachably fitted in said clip engaging means and having a portion lying in the included angle between the web and the body, said portion being spaced from said body and the web to provide a recess, and a shelf supported on said clip and having a portion fitting in said recess.

13. In a shelving structure, a support including a body having a web projecting to one side thereof, a clip rigidly anchored in the included angle between the web and the body and having portions disposed parallel to and spaced from the web and body to provide a recess, and a shelf having downturned side and end flanges slotted to receive the clip, said flanges being disconnected at the corners to provide a yielding corner tongue lying between the slotted flanges for yieldingly engaging the clip and fitting in said recess.

14. A shelving construction comprising a column including a base and a web projecting to one side thereof, a clip fitted to the column and having a leg comprising angularly disposed portions respectively arranged parallel to the web and body and spaced therefrom, said leg lying in the included angle between the web and the base to provide an angular recess, and a shelf having means at the corner thereof to fit in said angular recess and engaging said clip.

15. In a shelving construction, a support comprising a body having a web projecting to one side thereof and provided with an opening, a. clip fltted in said opening and including a leg interlocked at one end with the web at the opening and interlocked at the other end with the body and lying in the included angle between the web and the body, said leg being formed with shelf supporting portions formed at right angles to each other, and a shelf having downturned side and end flanges divided at the corners to form yielding clip engaging portions, said flanges being slotted adjacent the corners to straddle the right angularly disposed shelf supporting portions of the said leg of the clip.

GEORGE ROSCOE GIBSON. ALEXANDER WOOD. 

